School of Excellence Boys Book Club River Oaks Elementary School 2018-19 April Barrett

1. School of Excellence Boys Book Club River Oaks Elementary School 2018-19 April Barrett Reading Specialist Reading Recovery Teacher Academic Breeze 2018

2. Academic Breeze 2018

3. School of Excellence Boys Book Club River Oaks Elementary School 2018-19 Purpose: To offer reluctant readers who may or may not have behavior challenges an opportunity to choose and read books they enjoy independently in a safe encouraging environment. In addition, a movement to inspire an authentic love of reading is a heartfelt goal! Students/Participants… are invited to determine books they would like to read. help to determine norms for their book club. meet periodically to read and engage in student centered dialogical conversations. read independently uninterrupted. exchange and trade books as often as needed. make suggestions for additional books they desire to read. April Barrett (Reading Specialist & Reading Recovery Teacher) Academic Breeze 2018

4. Academic Breeze 2018

5. School of Excellence Boys Book Club River Oaks Elementary School 2018-19 RESEARCH SAYS: The key to supporting reluctant readers is helping them to connect to books that peak their interests. Realistic plots and relatable characters often make the difference. Reluctant and struggling readers must see themselves in books and read about their experiences in stories. Culturally relevant books are essential. These readers must have authentic book selections. Series books with conceivable plots and characters who remind them of themselves or someone they know usually are high interest books for reluctant and struggling readers. Reluctant readers must have the gift of choice and be provided with opportunities to read what they love. Colorful illustrations can be beneficial to help support the plot development. Texts with few challenging vocabulary words also help students to comprehend. Reading Rockets (2019). Hooking struggling readers: using books they can and want to read. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/hooking-struggling-readers-using-books-they-can-and-want-read. April Barrett (Reading Specialist & Reading Recovery Teacher) Academic Breeze 2018

6. Academic Breeze 2018

7. School of Excellence Boys Book Club River Oaks Elementary School 2018-19 RESEARCH FINDINGS WITH THIS YEAR’S GROUP: The key to supporting reluctant readers is helping them to connect to books that peak their interests. High interest Non-fiction books, as well as fiction texts with realistic plots and relatable characters often make the difference. My students’ actions confirm the validity of this statement. They chose to read Captain Underpants, Dog Man, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Press Start books. One student chose a Fly Guy book, but he went back to the familiar favorites. This year’s group is amused by the plots and they enjoy the antics, comments, and mishaps of the characters. Reluctant and struggling readers must see themselves in books and read about their experiences in stories. Culturally relevant books are essential. Though their books of choice are not cultural in nature, they tend to be relevant for their tastes. Perhaps they see themselves in the funny plot and humorous characters. Perhaps they like the experiences or they’ve experienced similar issues that the characters face. These readers must have authentic book selections. Series books with conceivable plots and characters who remind them of themselves or someone they know usually are high interest books for reluctant and struggling readers. I’ve tried to persuade my book club readers to select Nate the Great, Origami Yoda, Magic Tree House, Fly Guy, Guys Read, and Non-Fiction selections. My book club readers said they prefer books such as graphic novels with colorful pictures and characters. Reluctant readers must have the gift of choice and be provided with opportunities to read what they love. Though I’ve tried to offer a variety of books for them to choose from, they are loyal to their familiar favorites. I even invited one student to read a new book that I purchased hoping he would enjoy and influence his peers to read it… (ground zero). My book club readers consistently trade, exchange and select the same above mentioned books (see #1). Colorful illustrations can be beneficial to help support the plot development. Texts with few challenging vocabulary words also help students to comprehend. This year’s group prefer the graphic novel genre preferably by Dave Pilkey. Perhaps the layout, the textual integrity, and the flow of the language is less intimidating than a short novel like Nate the Great with no colorful pictures to lean on. (Also See #3) Reading Rockets (2019). Hooking struggling readers: using books they can and want to read. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/hooking-struggling-readers-using-books-they-can-and-want-read. April Barrett (Reading Specialist & Reading Recovery Teacher) Academic Breeze 2018